Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Daisy's heart pounded so fiercely she could hardly believe how quickly her life had spiraled out of control. Even Alivia, whom she had vowed to protect, was left exposed because of her failure. Damn it!

She couldn't wrap her head around how Max could be so heartless. Even if he didn't have feelings for Alivia, after all these years, the least he could do was show some decency. Now, with all the vile comments online, how was Alivia supposed to face the world? Was she to become a recluse?

Daisy's lips trembled as she rasped, "I need to talk to him! If he keeps up this ruthless campaign against Alivia, I swear I'll spill that secret!"

A flicker of murderous intent crossed the man's eyes as he stepped closer. "Mrs. Winston, I think you're missing something. Max has no desire to compete with the Beaconsfields or any other family. He sees them as beneath him. The wealth he amassed on Wall Street has long surpassed the Dorsey family's legacy. Do you really think he fears losing his position as heir?"

Daisy was frozen in place, speechless. No one knew exactly how much wealth Max had accumulated during his Wall Street days. At sixteen, he orchestrated the largest acquisition the world had ever seen, and while everyone focused on his genius, few delved into his actual fortune.

Maybe it wasn't that no one tried to dig deeper, but rather that they found nothing. Was Max, at only sixteen or seventeen, already that formidable?

A chill crept up Daisy's spine, making her feel icy cold. She wanted to laugh hysterically but couldn't.

Max! She had truly underestimated him.

"So what if Max is formidable! Even if he turns into a mad dog, he's still willingly leashed, and Brielle holds the other end of that leash! He will regret it, not choosing an exceptional girl like Alivia. Instead, he wasted his affection on a tramp. He will regret it!" Daisy's voice echoed through the empty space, but no one cared to listen anymore. After her outburst, she began to sob, covering her face with her hands.

The Barnes family had cast her aside, her husband was pushing for a divorce - was it her fault she couldn't bear a child? Then, a spark of realization lit up her eyes. She still had Kenzo!

Kenzo would surely remember the years of care she had provided. Without her, Kenzo would have starved to death. They had warned her when they handed Kenzo off- the child would die if discovered by others. She had given Kenzo life; surely, he would stand by her.

With gritted teeth and eyes full of resentment, she thought of Martha, who would never know the ironic twist her sacrifices had led to. How utterly laughable! Meanwhile...

Alivia was holed up in her house, too afraid to answer the phone or face anyone, locking her doors tight. The online abuse was too much for her to bear She couldn't, she wouldn't look at it. Just a short while ago, she was confidently fielding interviews with the media, and now she had become an object of public scorn.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she bit her lip, silent in her anguish. Since her return, her phone hadn't stopped ringing; it seemed the whole industry was waiting to mock her downfall, with the media eager for a juicy story. Her eyes reddened with frustration, her chest trembling. Her lips bled from biting, her palms stained with blood. That morning, she had thought she'd marry Max as she had wished, only to be met with a cruel twist of fate. She felt as if she was choking on blood, and finally, unable to hold it in, she spat it out and crumpled to the floor, weak and kneeling. Her tears smeared across her face, she never imagined she'd see such a day.

She had thought the worst-case

scenario was Max never loving her, but at least she would maintain her status as Mrs. Dorsey International She never anticipated that her most disgraceful moment would be exposed by the man she loved, in such a brutal manner. And the woman she loathed most was now adored by him, pursued so humbly?

Ha! What a farce!